Friday, 16 October 2009

Fuck Buttons

‘Bad 80s techno-rave hybrid with an edge’ for perpetual adolescents still mired in a haze of recreational drug-use, and Guardian reading buzzcuts who sadly wish that they still were. Redolent with the defunct charms of The Orb and the godawful Ozric Tentacles, The Fuck Buttons’ so-called ‘edge’ is supplied neither by the musical tone [which appears to rely exclusively on one-dimensional rhythmic structures and uni-directional dynamics of the kind already done to death by GSYBE] or thematic content [there isn’t any, because, hey, its all instrumental, man] but depends entirely upon the effect of the signifier ‘Fuck’ in the duo’s name. Would anyone care about this jet of steaming piss if they were called ‘The Buttons?’ No, they fucking wouldn’t. When computers can actually make music of their own, the first thing they will do is hunt down all examples of this dreary off-tossing genre, and erase it from the digisphere.

6 comments:

The signifier IS more important than the music, and veritable lack of imagination behind it. The noughties are a time of regression, cerebral disengagement and the lazy adoption of that most childish form of rebellion: swearing!

Your swearcore bands stink of stale, mostly male copycatism, an inability to have anything in particular to say or any real bile or aggression. Previous generations of punk, hardcore and post punk bands adopted controversial names not to shock but to kick against the pricks of their times. Indeed, that it was once only acceptable for FEMALE bands to have names with Cunt in. The idea being that only women can reappropiate that (usually used with sexist connotation) word in way that a load of goofy porn addled boys getting off on a rude word just can’t or even want to do.

In the noughties, kids live in a constant stream of useless information. Attention deficit, artistically bereft bands with the right signifier and usually one image manage to install in their fans and journalists the idea that are deeper than they seem. This process is kind of magical. Holy Fuck, The Fucking Ocean That fucking tank, Fucked UpShitmat, Anal Cunt, Selfish Cunt, Crystal Castles, Crystal stilts, Chrome hoof, Crystal hoof deercastle, Fuck Castle, Chrome shitcuntcastle (made the last few up and some are not actually swear words but still terrible bands) are dreck, less than one idea bands and they are usually using someone else’s one idea, albeit badly. In this baron wasteland of child minded bands and 17 year old online Zine journalists, less is indeed more. Almost nothing and you are a fuckingshitanalchromecunthoof GOD.

I cant belive i found someone who shares my opinion about the dreary f-buttons. Every time people ask me, with notable enthusiasm, "Have you heard Fuck Buttons?!" I always feel compelled to stare at the floor and mumble something about them not "really being my cup of tea".

never like techno or rave type stuff first time out (it wasn't compatible with BEER - have you TRIED getting pissed while all around are off their tits on E and dancing on pedestals? it puts you right off trying to be drunk) so i am immune to this shit. and anyway i can make better music with a pen, a blender and a cardboard box. I will be known as the Button Hole Surfers. mcp.